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Miata Lowering springs

Your Miata

Pick your year to see what fits.

There was no 1998 Miata in the US. The NB model started as a 1999.

Stance + less roll
Hard$230–$3504–6 hrs
All Miata mods

Why do it

Drops the car and cuts body roll while keeping your stock shocks.

Heads up

Spring compressors can hurt you if they slip. Many people have a shop swap the springs.

Tools you'll need

Starting out? See our budget tool list.

Parts to buy

Double-check fitment before buying. We may earn a commission when you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you.

Before you start

  • A cheap spring compressor can fail. Use a good one, or have a shop swap the springs.
  • Book an alignment before you start.
  • A cheap spring compressor can fail. Use a good one, or have a shop swap the springs.
  • Book an alignment before you start.
  • A cheap spring compressor can fail. Use a good one, or have a shop swap the springs.
  • Book an alignment before you start.
  • A cheap spring compressor can fail. Use a good one, or have a shop swap the springs.
  • Book an alignment before you start.

Steps

  1. Remove the fronts

    • Raise the car and remove the front shocks.
    Watch this step (The Sundae Drive, on an NA) (1:58–5:47)

  2. Remove the rears

    • Do the same at the rear.
    Watch this step (5:47–8:01)

  3. Swap the springs

    • Compress each spring, undo the top nut, fit the new spring and tighten the nut before you release the compressor.
    Watch this step (8:01–18:23)

  4. Refit everything

    • Bolt in the rears, then the fronts, and get an alignment.
    Watch this step (18:23–22:28) Watch the fronts (22:28–25:45)

  5. Remove the fronts

    • Raise the car and remove the front shocks.
    Watch this step (The Sundae Drive, on an NA; the NB is the same job) (1:58–5:47)

  6. Remove the rears

    • Do the same at the rear.
    Watch this step (5:47–8:01)

  7. Swap the springs

    • Compress each spring, undo the top nut, fit the new spring and tighten the nut before you release the compressor.
    Watch this step (8:01–18:23)

  8. Refit everything

    • Bolt in the rears, then the fronts, and get an alignment.
    Watch this step (18:23–22:28) Watch the fronts (22:28–25:45)

  9. Remove the struts

    • Remove the front struts, then the rears.
    Watch this step (Flywheel Films, Eibach on an NC) (4:05–5:32) Watch the rears (5:32–7:35)

  10. Swap the springs

    • Take each strut apart with the compressor and build it back up with the new spring.
    Watch this step (7:35–8:03) Watch the reassembly (10:21–11:16)

  11. Refit the struts

    • Bolt in the fronts and rears, then get an alignment.
    Watch this step (11:16–12:32) Watch the rears go in (12:32–13:24)

  12. Remove the front strut

    • Remove the wheel, then undo the top nuts and lower mounts, and take the strut out.
    Watch this step (DriveMX5, on an ND) (0:37–2:00)

  13. Swap the front spring

    • Compress the spring, undo the top nut, swap in the new spring and rebuild the strut in the same order.
    Watch this step (2:00–5:00)

  14. Refit the front

    • Set the strut in place, support the hub with a jack to simulate the car's weight, and torque the bolts.
    Watch this step (5:00–6:45)

  15. Do the rears

    • Remove the trunk carpet to reach the top nuts, then disconnect the end link and swap the rear spring the same way.
    Watch this step (6:45–10:00)

  16. Finish up

    • Refit the wheels, lower the car and get an alignment.
    Watch this step (10:00–11:00)

How to know it worked

Did this guide work for you?

Safety first

  • Park on flat ground, set the parking brake and chock the wheels.
  • Never get under a car held up only by a jack. Use jack stands.
  • Let the engine and exhaust cool first.
  • Disconnect the battery before unplugging electrical parts.
  • Wear safety glasses.
  • If something doesn't match your car, stop and ask a shop.

Follow your part's instructions and your service manual's torque specs.